Greeson: Oregon, Ohio State grateful to Miami

Greeson: Oregon, Ohio State grateful to Miami

Talk about the University of Miami's scandal hasn't been all bad for some parts of the college football world.

Miami's troubles have deflected the swirling rumors and allegations at Oregon, where the questions about the traffic stops of two star players have turned into a Cheech-and-Chong routine.

The Hurricanes' storms after Yahoo! Sports revealed almost a decade of debauchery more than likely launched a series of celebrations in Columbus, Ohio. Because no matter what THE Ohio State has done, it pales in comparison to the allegations made about Miami and rogue booster Nevin Shapiro.

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The questions this morning are what happens to Miami and how/if college football can be fixed?

And please do not quote that talking-head round-table panel discussion on the bastion of ethics and morality that is college football from the bastion of ethics and morality that is the ESPN campus.

The more we've thought about the hard-to-believe-and-even-harder-to-turn-away-from details of the Miami scandal, the more we think the death penalty could be an option. Seriously, is the NCAA going to wait for something "bigger" and/or more "scandalous" than this hurricane that includes a convicted felon saying he provided cash and gifts and women and even an abortion for players and recruits with said felon claiming that coaches and school officials knew of this as it was happening?

As for fixing the system, it's going to take a room full of smart people who do not have a vested interest in the ATM that is modern-day college football. High on the list of steps, though, has to be rewriting the rules and including clear and distinct punishments.

Let's not be overly concerned about improper text messages that occur on the wrong day of the week, and let's do everything possible so the Nevin Shapiros of the world are eradicated from the game.

And while we're here, there needs to be a golden circle of NCAA violations (call it the Jim Tressel level, if you want), that if violated are paramount to taking a career hara-kiri. And that's for the coach, the booster, the player -- for anyone who broke the Tressel-level rule.

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Fred Couples may have had a few 12-packs too many when he was asked by reporters Wednesday about Tiger Woods' chances of making the Presidents Cup team for the United States. Couples is the captain of the American team and has two at-large picks -- and he long has been in favor of adding Woods, who has been in a complete tailspin.

"I really want him on the team based on my opinion that he's been the best player for 10 straight years," Couples said Wednesday during a news conference. "I don't think you can push him down because he's not playing maybe as well as 20 other guys that could be picked."

Uh, Freddie, that's exactly how it should happen. This isn't the Celebrity Skins game. Pick the best players right now. Are you going to pick Jack Nicklaus because he was the best player ever? If you get to pick Tiger circa 2007, OK, we're with you. But Tiger circa 2011, not so much.